Love this reminder! I was watching some people playing in Depridation Creek Saturday, in jeans, thinking how cold they were going to get when they headed back under the trees and that 40 something degree water was against their skin.

You want a material that wicks away moisture so you remain dry and comfortable after sweaty hours on the trail. You donít want a material like cotton that pools moisture against your skin. Most hiking groups have the "no cotton" rule and remind members that "cotton kills". And it's true, it has. Killed that is. One issue w/ cotton - hypothermia - which can set in at temperatures well above freezing. It's a hot summer day? Doesn't matter, when you're hiking you're always prepared for the worst. The worst? You get hurt & have to spend the night on the trail, it's cold, even in the summer... you've been sweating, your cotton clothing stays wet.... "cotton kills".

Wear synthetics, they wick moisture away from your body, they are quick drying, some of them have built in SPF, and some are resistant to rips and they are lightweight - great for layering. Which is what you should always have with you when you're hiking.

Hello SparkPortland! I've been hoping to get another SparkPerson to come and walk with me. But so far... no takers. So I signed up to be an Event Coordinator for a local MeetUp.com Group. It's the Portland Women's Hiking/Wilderness Community MeetUp and I lead slower-paced hikes (2 MPH or a wee bit less w/ plenty of stops for normalizing heart-rate, drinking water, taking pictures, and gabbing) on moderate to difficult hiking trails. I lead hikes in the Gorge as well as here in Portland. We always try to arrange carpooling.

Next week I am leading a Saddle Mountain Hike and later this month, a Full Moon Hike!!! Please join me, I'd love to meet some of my fellow SparkPortland ladies.

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